Katie Spotz's solo row across the Atlantic Ocean for safe drinking water

On March 14, 22-year old Katie Spotz entered the record books by completing her 3,038 mile solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, after 70 days, 5 hours and 22 minutes. In doing so, she raised over $150,000 for a nonprofit funding safe drinking water projects for the billion people around the world in need.

Most people know me as the girl that rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

What some may not know is that beyond my adventure-seeking is a greater purpose. What has inspired me to swim a river, row an ocean or cycle a country has been something that connects us all.

Water. Water is the source of all life and when I found out that a lot of people (1.2 billion to be exact) don’t have access to it, I decided to use my passion for endurance to help. And by teaming up with Kinetico and other sponsors, we’ve been able to share the vision where every human being on our planet has access to clean, safe drinking water.

“Row for Water” raised more than $150,000 for safe water projects in Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Kenya. After visiting water projects following my solo row, I was touched by the children I met in Kenya. I witnessed how many children would spend hours each day collecting water instead of going to school and getting an education. Water changes everything. Clean water gives children the opportunity to attend school and get an education. With education, communities are able to raise up strong leaders, making it possible to break the cycle of poverty and allowing future generations to improve their quality of life.

This journey to Kenya sparked my latest adventure. In 2012, I founded a charitable organization to further raise funds and awareness for schools-based water projects called Schools for Water. Since 2012 Schools for Water has donated over $100,000 to fund water projects in the developing world. We have worked with over 5,000 students in America and helped 10,000 students in Kenya gain access to safe drinking water. To find out more about how to get involved please see the Schools for Water website here.

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